Parkin shines at Deaflympics

From: Sunday Times, South Africa - Jan 11, 2005

KwaZulu Natal's Terence Parkin continued his gold rush swimming campaign, in setting a 100m freestyle world record, and taking the 200m breaststroke honours, at the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Parkin improved on his heat 100m freestyle time of 54,65 seconds, to set a world record of 52,47, with Gauteng-based Greg Lessing finishing fourth in 53,74.

Parkin went on to take the 200m breaststroke gold in 2:27,37, while Lessing took silver in the 50m backstroke final in 28,74.

At the end of three days of swimming, Parkin has collected five individual gold medals as well as being a part of the world-record setting Team SA 4x200m freestyle relay team, with the Lessing brothers, Greg and Nick, and Marko Jansen van Niewenhuizen.

With Greg Lessing having won gold in the 200m backstroke and silver in the 50m backstroke events, and Nick Lessing having collected silver in the 200m backstroke, Team SA has a medal tally of seven gold and two silver, courtesy of the swimming contingent.

Tony Heyns had every reason to be a proud Team SA Chef de Mission at the end of the fifth day's action at the Deaflympics and thanked the National Lottery Board for their financial support which made the trip possible.

Sapa

copyright Sunday Times © Johnnic Media Investments Limited 1996-2005. All Rights Reserved.